Hood latch



Aug. 9," 1938. w. s. SAUNDERS HOOD LATCH 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNov. 9

I FIG.|

INVENTOR 3% RR n T M? R E m w Aug. 9, 1938. w. s. SAUNDERS HOOD LATCHFiled NOY. 9, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3.

WALTER S. SAUNDER S an a4 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 9, 1938 PATENT OFFICEHOOD v LATCH Walter S. Saunders, Pontiac, Mich., assignor to AmericanForging & Socket Company, Pontiac,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November 9, 1936, SerialNo. 109,860 3 Claims. -(01192-223) clude the provision of such latchingmeans for hoods of the lid type, that is, hinged upon a fixed horizontalaxis, as well as the incorporation therewith of means for centering thehood, and for holding the same against rattling.

A further object is to provide such a remotecontrolled latchconstruction of the character indicated formed entirely of sheet metalin a very simple and economical manner, yet adapted to very securelyhold the hood or other latched part.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawingsillustraing preferred embodiments of my invention and wherein similarreference numerals designate similar parts throughout 'the severalviews.

In thedrawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the front and hoodportions of an automobile having hood latching means incorporating theprinciples of this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the hood and appurtenantportions of the automobile, partly broken away, showing the latchreleased.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, on a larger scale, showing thelatch in closed position and partly broken away.

Figure 4 is a view showing the latch mechanism in plan, the hood lidbeing broken away.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken substantially.

side walls II', and a top or lid section l2 hinged at its rear edge, asat IS, in such manner that it may be lifted from the front. The enginecompartment is shown-separated from the passenger compartment It by adash panel i5.' The meeting edges of the lid' section and hood walls areframed and reenforced by flange elements IL-IB, respectively, each ofsuch frame flanges carrying one portion of my improved latch. The bodyor keeper 2!] is attached to the fixed flange l8, and the rid boltelement 22 to the lid flange l'l.

Both the body and boltelements are formed of sheet metal, drawn togenerally U-contour. Each is flanged for securance to the frame memberby which it is carried. The keeper body is fastened to the under-side offlange l8, and provided with an opening created by its U-shape, adaptedto accommodate the downwardly projecting bolt element 22, which extendsthereinto when the lid is closed. The bolt element 22 is rigidly carriedby the lid, being securedto the bottom of flange IT in position toregister with the opening in the keeper body. Both the opening and boltare tapered in such manner that the bolt and so the lid are centered bythe keeper during closing of the lid.

Viewed from the side, the bolt member 22 will be seen to be shaped toprovide an inclined nose 23, which forms an overhanging latchingshoulder 24 engageable by the swingable latching dog 25 carried by thekeeper 20. The dog has a nose portion 26 swingable to overhang thelatching. shoulder 24, and is normally urged toward such latchedposition by a torsion spring. 26 wrapped about the pivot pin 29 uponwhich the dog is swingably mounted.

The dog is releasable by means of a pull rod 30 articulated thereto andextending through the dash into the passenger compartment, where it maybe connected to a foot pedal as 33 operable to retract the dog and sofree the lid. The coil spring 35, mounted in the frame member I8, actsdirectly upon the lid when closed, urging the same toward openedposition with enough force, when the dog is released, to move the lidupward a short distance, freeing the bolt member from the dog,whereafter the lid may be raised by hand, from outside. The spring thusresists closing of the lid and cushions the closing thereof, and inaddition tends to hold the lid and the body of the hood apart and understress, even when the lid is closed and latched, so preventing rattling.

1 While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiment of myinvention herein disclosed is well calculated to adequately fulfill theobjects and advantages primarily stated, it is to be understood that theinvention is susceptible to variation, modification and change withinthe spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. Remotely controllable latching means for releasably securing a lid orthe like to the support, comprising latch keeper and bolt portions, onecarried by the lid section and the other by the support, each of saidportions having a substantially U-shaped sheet metal section, saidsections interfitting when the lid is closed, the bolt which theU-shaped section of the bolt portions fits into the U-shaped section ofthe keeper portion, the latch member also being of substantially U-shapeand facing in a direction opposite to the bolt portion, said latchmember being pivoted upon the keeper portion and retractible byengagement of the bolt portion thereagainst.

3. Latching means as defined in claim 1 in which said keeper and boltportions projecting substantially in the same direction and the boltportion slides into the keeper portion when the lid is closed, saidshoulder portion extending transversely from the tapered interfittingportions, and the latch member is movably supported by the keeperportion and engageable and disengageable with respect to said shoulderportion.

.WAL'I'ER S. SAUNDERS.

